Get your body movin’ at Winterlude: events include Winterlude Triathlon, annual Bed Race, skating demonstrations and Pond Hockey Classic
PAULINE ANDERSON / METRO OTTAWA
The Ottawa area is synonymous with winter sports and Winterlude certainly lives up to that reputation.
The three weeks of festivities are replete with events that range from deadly serious to the downright goofy.
This year’s highlight is Hockey Day in Canada, Feb 11 at 7 a.m. It features the Guinness World Record attempt for the longest hockey breakaway on the Rideau Canal at the Chateau Laurier.
Full story: Get your body movin’ at Winterlude
Skate back in history with Portraits on Ice
TERESA CHIYKOWSKI / METRO OTTAWA
If you plan to take in some of the exciting sights of Winterlude this month, don’t be surprised to skate upon an art exhibit of a different kind — Portraits on the Ice. This refreshing outdoor gallery returns to the Rideau Canal Feb. 3, this time to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.
The exhibit showcases 10 portrait reproductions that represent some of the French- and English-speaking militia and colonists, British officers and First Nations allies who were a part of, or were affected by, the War of 1812. The original works of art were created in a variety of media — paintings, prints and photography.
Read the rest of the story on Metro Ottawa online: Skate back in history with Portraits on Ice
NCC diversifies Winterlude, making it less dependent on cold weather
Mark Brownlee, The Ottawa Citizen
Photo courtesy Ottawa Citizen, by Pat McGrath
Unpredictable February weather will force Winterlude to focus less on its winter theme in the years to come, organizers say of the festival that has traditionally drawn tourists by celebrating Canada’s cold climate.
Fluctuating temperatures have wreaked havoc on the event in the past few years. Temperatures went as high as 10 C on the Friday before the last weekend of the 2011 edition, forcing organizers to change some marquee events such as the ice sculpture competition and to temporarily close the Rideau Canal to skating.
The event’s organizer, the federally-funded National Capital Commission, has already moved to diversify its lineup from such traditional winter-themed activities to those not dependent on weather. This year’s events include a jazz festival in Confederation Park and a beer and ice wine festival in Gatineau.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen Website: NCC diversifies Winterlude, making it less dependent on cold weather
Marriage, jousts and royal drama in Osgoode this weekend
Emma Jackson, YourOttawaRegion
Lords and ladies, maidens and princes, knights and even commoners are invited to the fourth annual medieval festival in Osgoode this July – complete with a real wedding, an enormous feast and the chance of a royal assassination.
Beginning Friday, July 8 with an education day for kids and families, the festival runs the gamut of medieval activities from sword fighting, dancing and jousting to eating an entire feast with a single utensil.
Full Story: Marriage, jousts and royal drama in Osgoode this weekend
THE STAGE IS SET! TIM HORTONS OTTAWA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Announces 2011 Free Entertainment Line-up
Source: Kashmera on Flickr
Paddles hit the water for the 18th annual Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (THODBF) on June 17-19, 2011 at Mooney’s Bay Park.
North America’s largest dragon boat festival features non-stop dragon boat racing, endless family activities and a spectacular free entertainment series with Canada’s top musical talent.
The Trews, who won Fan’s Choice Video of the Year and DVD of the Year at the 2011 East Coast Music Awards, will help welcome attendees to THODBF on Friday June 17.
City plans ‘Rink of Dreams’ outside Ottawa City Hall
ctvottawa.ca
The City of Ottawa plans to build a $1.25-million outdoor “Rink of Dreams” outside City Hall that would create a winter meeting place similar to Rockefeller Plaza in New York City or Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square.
The plan calls for an oval rink at Marion Dewar Plaza that would span more than 12,000 square feet, making it one of the largest outdoor rinks in the city. If council approves the project, the rink could be ready by next winter.
If approved, residents and tourists will be able to lace up their skates annually to take a skate on the rink from November to March. The area will be used as a community space during the spring and summer months.
Full story: City plans ‘Rink of Dreams’ outside Ottawa City Hall
Ottawa one of world’s top cycling cities
[City of Ottawa News Release]
The City of Ottawa welcomes news from CNN that lists Ottawa as one of 15 of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
“Being recognized as a cycling-friendly City is the result of many initiatives that are designed to encourage more people to use their bikes,” said Ottawa Mayor, Jim Watson. “Adding bike lanes whenever possible, constructing the segregated bike lane on Laurier Avenue, declaring May bike to work month and promoting cycling through our iWalk iBike campaign are just a few examples. They demonstrate how the City is leading the way to promote bicycle use.”
“Our official plan emphasizes cycling as a sustainable transportation mode and even require communities and employment centres to be cycling-friendly,” said Kanata-North Ward Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, chair of the City’s Transportation Committee. “There are over 170 km of paths for cyclists in Ottawa. We are continually expanding on this bike network, identifying and filling in gaps between lanes and building on our network of cycling facilities and programs to make cycling an ever more attractive way to get around.”
The list of 15 of the world’s most bike-friendly cities is available on CNN’s website at www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/05/06/bike.friendly.cities.matador.
The stage is set! Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival Announces 2011 Free Entertainment Line-up
Paddles hit the water for the 18th annual Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (THODBF) on June 17-19, 2011 at Mooney’s Bay Park. North America’s largest dragon boat festival features non-stop dragon boat racing, endless family activities and a spectacular free entertainment series with Canada’s top musical talent.
The Trews, who won Fan’s Choice Video of the Year and DVD of the Year at the 2011 East Coast Music Awards, will help welcome attendees to THODBF on Friday June 17. They’ll entertain the crowd with familiar favorites Not Ready To Go, Highway of Heroes, and their new hit single Hope & Ruin. Joining the Trews are The Stanfields, the Nova Scotia roots-rockers who won the Rising Star of the Year Award at the 2011 East Coast Music Awards. These bands will set the tone for a phenomenal weekend of free entertainment and paddling.
Steven Page’s distinctive voice is among the most instantly recognizable in Canadian music. Steven will be appearing in support of Page One, his first solo release since leaving the highly successful band, Barenaked Ladies. Keeping the dragon boat crowd entertained on the beer garden stage will be Ottawa native and local favorite, Jim Bryson. Having recently completed the Falcon Lake Incident tour with the Weakerthans, he will be making his first appearance at the festival. Also appearing on Saturday will be breakout indie pop rock group San Sebastian, who took MuchMusic’s disBAND by storm and Ottawa’s Amos The Transparent, bringing their popular indie folk to the stage.
On Father’s Day, Sunday June 19, attendees can treat dad to a showcase of local Ottawa artists. Fathers can relax to the beautiful songs of Chris MacLean, nominated for the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for English Songwriter of the Year. Returning to THODBF is MonkeyJunk, which recently won three Canadian blues awards at the Maple Blues Awards.
Also not to be missed over the weekend are Ash Koley, with their upbeat pop hit Don’t Let Your Feet Touch The Ground. The Dunn Boys and their east coast flavoured Celtic rock, Silver Creek, who bring their own brand of southern rock and unique parade style band Mike Essoudry’s Mash Potato Mashers, which will round out the expanded weekend line-up.
New this year is the Craz-E-Crew Stunt Team of BMX riders who will be soaring through the air thrilling spectators. Cultural performances will showcase Ottawa’s diversity with the traditional lion dancers, lead performer Fana Soro of the dynamic West African ensemble Masabo, a bag piper and Japanese drummers Oto-Wa Taiko. The Tim Hortons Children’s Area will feature interactive and educational activities including magician Chris Pilsworth, Little Ray’s Reptiles, Lil’ John, Radical Science and more. For a full list of free entertainment, visit www.dragonboat.net.
The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival entertainment series is made possible by the continued support of Canadian Heritage’s Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage, Celebrate Ontario and the City of Ottawa Partnership Program.
About the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is the largest festival of its kind in North America and is one of Ottawa’s must-attend summer events. This 3-day festival is hosted at Mooney’s Bay Park from June 17-19 and features non-stop dragon boat racing, with a total of 190 team and 5000 paddlers. Over 70,000 spectators take in cultural activities, live music, a variety of vendors/exhibits and family-oriented entertainment. For more information, visit www.dragonboat.net, www.facebook.com/ottawadragonboat, www.twitter.com/ottdragonboat.
SPRING CLEAN-UP COMPLETED, CAPITAL PATHWAY NETWORK READY!
Spring is upon us and the National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased that the Capital Pathway Network is ready to welcome outdoor enthusiasts in Ottawa and Gatineau.
The NCC completed the spring clean-up of its pathways earlier this year and is now able to open all parking lots along the pathways and urban parks, with the exception of parking lots along the Gatineau Park parkways, which will open on May 6.
The NCC has made significant improvements to the Capital Pathway Network over the last year and will continue to do so this season.
“We know how enthusiastic users are to get back on the recreational pathways as soon as the snow melts which is why we worked hard to ensure an early reopening of the network,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer at the NCC. “Since last year, we have added 15 km of new pathways, which extends our pathway network to 235 km. We will continue to focus our efforts on improving the Capital Region’s cycling infrastructure, with the Capital BIXI bike share service, a regional cycling map, a protected cycling lane on Wellington Street and enhanced collaboration with our municipal partners.”
Starting May 18, 2011, residents and visitors can take advantage of the Capital BIXI bike share service. The NCC will offer 10 stations and 100 Capital BIXI bicycles in various locations throughout downtown Ottawa and Gatineau.
Moreover, in partnership with the City of Ottawa, the NCC is leading a pilot project for the integration of cycling lanes on Wellington Street between Bay Street and the Portage Bridge. As of November 2011, it is planned that cyclists will have access to an eastbound cycling lane running to Bay Street as well as a protected westbound cycling lane from Bay Street to the Portage Bridge.
Users should be mindful that certain pathway sections, specifically in Jacques-Cartier Park, may still be covered with some snow and ice and as a result can be slippery and subject to flooding. The NCC urges everyone to keep personal safety in mind and respect the signs and barricades, when they see any, that have been installed to advise the public of dangers. The NCC is asking for the public’s help in keeping its paths safe and pleasant and asks users to inform the NCC about spots that are flooded or in need of repair or maintenance. Users may contact the NCC by telephone at 613-239-5353 or by e-mail at info@ncc-ccn.ca.
For more information about the Capital Pathway Network, the public can contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY) or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
Tulip Festival will officially unveil spring season
By Sabine Gibbins, EMC News
Source: Walker on Flickr
This year’s Canadian Tulip Festival may have visitors viewing the annual blooms in a refreshing new way.
Visitors to Ottawa’s premiere spring event can wave goodbye to beds of tulips planted in stretches of solid colour, and say hello to an array of colourful blends which unveil a unique design.
The festival takes place from May 6 to 23.
The theme for this year’s Tulip Festival is ‘kaleidoscope – a celebration of spring awakening through colour, culture, and community’, according to the official website.
Read the full story on the EMC website: Tulip Festival will officially unveil spring season
